Some Photography Critique!

It just looks like you had the hiccups, or you were in an earthquake or something. I don't care much for the look. Its like what the city would look like from the view of a paint can mixer.


----Mike Savad

@mike this is a long exposure night photography trying to play with the lights and make the subject abstracted...
i always love your critique very honest and helpful thank you

I've seen the, "camera bouncing on a car seat, at night, while keeping the shutter open", and then selling it as an abstract. When it looks more like you had a seizure when taking the shot.

I think if it repeated in a more interesting way and wasn't so cluttered with lights, it might be better. Right now its hard to look at. I think it would be better just to leave it long and watch natural lights moving against steady ones. As it is now, you labeled it NY, but this could be any where. Show it to us as NY. Or try taking it on a ferris wheel or a ride of some kind. Makes it more natural.


----Mike Savad

mike you are so funny!
the idea is to move the camera to create the shape of the lights as you can see the heart shapes of the empire state building
most of nyc lovers will recognize the the city but they will see it differently through my lens

@mike "I think it would be better just to leave it long and watch natural lights moving against steady ones."
you mean like this

but this is not what iam aiming for as a style the idea is playing with lights you know what i mean

I like the last one you posted. Though it still looks like you are in a middle of some kind of weird haunting. I'd rather see it without the gamma radiation, but it works better than the squiggles. People will ask what those blobs are and if you have one without it. I assume you have both versions. Maybe if it was a long exposure of the city and there were all the fireworks going off (not sure how that would look with all the light). That might be interesting too.

I never messed with night shots, too many muggers and mosquitoes.

Part of the problem of making a shape is that its lumpy and uneven. If you could make a template, and trace that, I wonder if that would be better. I imagine a large heart made in plastic, stiff and light. If you made a stylus from the tripod mount and traced that. That may work as long as the template is fixed in place. Then it would at least look even, right now it has an etch a sketch look.

You can also get hearts by I think shooting through a heart shape covering the lens, I think it has to be a small hole. It would make it into bokeh hearts. It would look more like you did it on purpose.


----Mike Savad

those first ones make me dizzy looking at them, if you post them for sale and they never sell, then you know why, if people buy them then you are on to something - that Tribute photo is way better

First of all, well done for trying something different, its always good (IMO) to try and come up with ideas for something that photographically might be visually interesting. Having said that, my preference is for the NYC tribute image rather than the NYC with light image, as I prefer the mix of normal and abstract (eg, sharp v blurry). The circles / ring effect is quite strong and seems too dominant even in the small thumbnail, so guess it would be even more so in a large print, while in the NYC tribute image has a nice balance between normal and abstract. This is all subjective of course, and just my preference.

Love the first one. Liking the tribute, not loving it and prefer the first one

There's always someone for everything...

Habib - if I've learnt anything over the last 40 years it's that you can't please everyone and 'art' is a very subjective thing. There are photographs that sell for millions that I wouldn't personally have on my wall if you paid me (provenance and 'name' withstanding), and I've seen work out there from some extraordinarily talented photographers that gets nowhere. Trying to fathom it out or second guess what someone may or may not buy is a road to a hiding. Just create what you enjoy creating and care not one jot for the opinions of others.

FWIW ICM (intentional camera movement) style photography has been around for as long as I can remember. Even dabbled with it myself for a while when I was mixing things up a bit. Nothing wrong with it, just a matter of personal taste. Some will see a jumbled mess, others will see an interesting abstract.

We have all "created" by accident some motion blur photos that look like these. It is tempting to get creative with motion blur and some are successful. Usually somethin done by college students for photo class. To each his own I guess. I think Mike is being polite.

It's different than the other 3 1/2 billion NY skyline (or ANY city) shots.
That's what counts.
People seem to forget the formula: less competition = more sales.

I like the first one!

See? Not just me. There's someone for everything ;-)

Habib - A friend asked me this, and now I will ask you - Do YOU like it?

My favorite is Tribute, and New York City with Light. I think I like something recognizable in the image. If you are having fun with it do some more. I am not a photographer but bet there is a LOT you could do with this idea.

These are kind of neat. There's some space for intentional camera movement in photography. I wish I would remember to do it more often myself. I think it works better in a nature setting where colors blend smoothly, but to each his own. These have their own charm.

just for a clarification this photo is not manipulated or photoshopped its a normal long exposure photo the camera on a tripod not moving what you see on foreground are balloons with the flag colors tied with a rope and been moved by the wind thats why are blurred i choose it in purpose to combine a still background with a moving foreground

you guys are awesome love your critiques and value it all keep it coming

Hi Bradford, For once that Mike Savad says he likes something I don't think he is being polite, I think it's true.

Also because I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be polite with me as well, then.

i think artists should not be offended by any critiques of their creations ppl have different tastes and most importantly different angles of critiquing an artwork
about Mike Savad he is brutally honest and always looking forward for his critique plus i really loved all other fellow artists critiques and opinions like Nina, ABBIE,JASON,VAL,BRADFORD,KALL3BU,DAVID,PHILIP,DAVE,DAN They all have a great works too very professional

Hi Habib, you are right, I agree with you!

hi Lucia , am i right about mike savad or the critique (: (:

Thank you, Habib, I think you are right about how to take a critique, about the talent of the artists you mentioned and yes, also about Mike Savad. His critiques are so very helpful.

Only I didn't agree in thinking he would say something just to be polite, but that's all really, I was not critizing or questioning anyone.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain myself a bit better!

you are welcome Lucia
by the way you did not mention what you think about my style and how you see it as a viewer ? i appreciate your opinion

Really? How kind, thank you very much, Habib! I was a bit shy, but yes, of course, just as a viewer these are my opinions:

I prefer the tribute, but with no blobs, though, sorry!

Regarding the one with the hearts, I would like one where only the empire would have the hearts, the rest would be recognizable and I would call it The heart of NY.

In general, since your Skylines are different, I would try to work out different titles as well, a bit more unique.

Like in Skyline long there is light but I also see movement, so I would describe it in the title with something like The speed of light of nyc.

Some ideas: Colors of the night in NY. The glowing sparks of NY. The connecting circles of a metropolis. Sparks of light in NY. NY in glowing lines.

A bit of variety. But I don't suggest to change what you have done, they are only some ideas for the next ones you will do, maybe.

Thank you again for asking me, I wish you all the best!

waw lucia thats amazing thank you for your insight very helpful indeed!
you see even though u are not into the style and you dont have to be sorry about that your critique it from a different angle which was very insightful concerning the titles i completely agree with you i will work on that many many thanks again

always enjoy the ICM technique...it's fun and allows for something unique.

great work you have Josef! thank you for passing by
i clicked follow

Habib!! Thank you so very much for your kind words!!

When it comes to intentional camera movement, I prefer to see smoother lines of movement. For my tastes the camera needs to be held steady on a tripod or stable surface as it is panned or moved. I don't like the jagged movement look usually comes from handheld ICM. In fact, I often think it was a mistake that ended up coming out artistically when the movement is not smooth.

All that being said...the examples that you have posted Habib, look very well thought out and intentional to me. While these types of abstracts aren't something that I enjoy, I would say that your execution is quite nicely done.

"The Empire State and Chrysler" and "New York City Night Lights" are my favorites of what you have posted here so far. I like the softer focus on those two photos, I think it really adds to the abstract quality...and I find the motion blur easier to look at than the crisper images.

Fuzzy images don't sell. IMHO

I APPRECIATE YOUR HONEST OPINION ANDREW
i agree with you with the favorite photos they are my faves too if you asked me
for my particular style i have to move the camera with my hand to get the shape and the movement i am looking for so the tripod is not needed
@Louis i value your input but my goal for now is not to sell just to have a feel of what my fellow artists and photographers insight about this style by the way your horses photos are amazing!